portable lamp modules integrate into furniture for compact living

storable, portable lamp crafted for compact lifestyles

Seeking to optimize comfort within limited living spaces, Junhee Lee and Chaewon Kim posed a unique question: ‘How about storing lights?’ As a result, SAI was born as a ‘storable lamp’ specially crafted for small residential areas in Korea. Designed to be easily taken out, moved around, and conveniently stored away after use, SAI encompasses three variations that effectively illuminate our diverse daily activities with varying intensities and color temperatures. With a simple, user-friendly design, the portable lamp modules can be easily accessed and installed. Initially stored within a wooden shelving unit that doubles as furniture, the desired module can be taken out and easily carried around to where needed. At the end of use, it can be placed back inside the main body where it will resume charging automatically.

‘SAI’ portable lamp | all images courtesy of the author

adjustable light intensity and color for custom use

With a large portion of the younger generation in Korea residing in compact studio apartments, the introduction of a new furniture piece necessitates careful decision-making, such as sacrificing space or narrowing pathways. Further, while lighting remains essential in our daily lives it seldom assumes significant responsibility, with lamps often occupying a significant portion of this limited space. This realization sparked the concept behind SAI — a design solution to reclaim valuable space by integrating storage and lighting seamlessly.

Junhee Lee and Chaewon Kim derived the term SAI as an English transcription of the Korean word ‘사이’, meaning ‘gap between space’. The portable lamp series comprises three types of lighting modules and a main body designed to house them, with each module offering a different color temperature with adjustable light intensity. The smallest, Type A, has a color temperature of 2500K, meanwhile the larger Type B has an intensity of 3500K. Type C, the largest of the three, has an intensity of 5000K. Further, SAI offers a convenient dimmer dial switch, allowing users to adjust the light intensity and easily turn off the lights as needed. The main body, acting as a storage unit for the light modules, presents versatile functionality as it can also serve as a side table, shelf, or drawer.

Junhee Lee and Chaewon Kim question craft a storable light

the lamps are initially stored in wooden shelf

the unit doubles as furniture for storage

SAI modules can easily be moved around the home for versatile use

three sizing options

Type A, C, and B from left to right

ergonomic handle for easy access

dimmer switch on the inside of the handle

plywood finish

as the lamp is stored, it charges automatically

project info:

name: SAI
designer: Junhee Lee, Chaewon Kim

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edited by: ravail khan | designboom